The Current Role and Relevance of a Splenectomy in Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Patients—A Single-Center Experience

Background and objectives: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a rare hematological disorder characterized by an autoimmune-mediated decline in platelet count in peripheral blood. Over the years, its treatment has evolved, leading to a decline in the role of splenectomy, which was previously used as a second-line therapy. This study aims to evaluate the effects of spleen removal on the progression of the disease, regardless of the surgical procedure, by presenting a single-center experience. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all ITP patients who underwent splenectomy and were admitted to the Hematology Clinic of Timișoara Emergency City Hospital between January 1988 and June 2024. A total of 217 ITP patients who underwent splenectomy were identified over a 37-year period. Demographic data, postoperative complications, and responses to splenectomy were analyzed over a median follow-up period of 93.86 ± 104.25 months, ranging from 6 to 423 months. Results: Among the 217 patients included in the study, 155 (71.42%) were female and 62 (28.58%) were male, with a mean age of 38.47 ± 16.12 years. During the follow-up period, a significant decrease in the number of splenectomies was observed (p < 0.001). The overall morbidity rate was 14.28%. The overall response rate after splenectomy was 85.71%, with 158 patients (72.81%) achieving a complete response and 28 (12.90%) achieving a partial response. However, 28 (15.05%) of the responsive patients experienced relapse during follow-up and required additional medical therapy. Analyzing the association between comorbidities and relapse after splenectomy, the presence of diabetes (OR = 6.90, 95% CI: 2.87–16.58), hepatic diseases (OR = 64.60, 95% CI: 19.60–212.91), immune thyroid disorders (OR = 8.37, 95% CI: 2.09–33.46), and obesity (OR = 10.22, 95% CI: 3.41–30.60) were identified as risk factors for relapse using univariate analysis. Conclusions: Splenectomy remains the treatment with the best long-term outcomes compared to other therapies. However, concerns about early and late complications following splenectomy, along with advancements in modern ITP treatments, have led to a significant decline in the number of splenectomies performed. In univariate analyses, female gender, age over 40, and the presence of diabetes, hepatic diseases, obesity, or immune thyroid disorders were found to be risk factors for relapse following splenectomy. In the logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and sex, obesity and steatosis were significantly associated with an increased risk of relapse after splenectomy in women over 40 years of age.